Posts Tagged ‘2012’

Two of today’s hottest super cars go at it side by side. Check out the Underground Racing Ferrari 458 Italia, with the UGR Twin Turbo System (700whp), take on the new 2012 Lamborghini Aventador (stock). Aventador owners, don’t feel left out as UGR will be producing Twin Turbo Systems for you soon. And there will be a rematch.

Swedish design company Visualtech recently shocked the world with a daring “reimagining” of Jaguar’s E-Type coupe , the “Growler E”. Now comes word that the firm has decided to actually produce the retro-modern cat, as soon as the summer of 2012.

The exact details however, aren’t quite as sculpted as the car. Visualtech states that they will start by producing three or four cars, all to be finished around the same time. Then, depending on demand, an unspecified limited run will be put into production via the help of companies Steyr or Valmet. Paying homage to the brand which inspired it, the Growler E will be powered by Jaguar’s 5.0-liter supercharged V8, currently delivered in the current XKR. With some light tuning, Visualtech expects a car around the 600hp mark, that will pounce from 0-60 in less than four seconds.

With a composite body, the Growler will reportedly come together through a carbon fiber structure and tube frames in both front and rear that will hold its running gear. Price? Well that too depends on the demand and scope of the run. You can expect it to cost anywhere in between $700,000 and $1.4 million, so if you want one, you better try to get a few friends interested in as well.

Latest version of Lamborghini Gallardo Super Sport that received Superleggera treatment, it power-driven by a 5.2-liter V10 engine that makes 562 horsepower at 8000 rpm and 398 lb.-ft maximum torque at 6500 rpm. that makes 10 more horsepower than the one in the regular Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder, lamborghini also shaved it weight by 143 pounds which would place this car around 3700 pounds.

Between the weight savings and the horsepower boost, Lamborghini boasts that the Spyder Performante can dispatch a 0-to-60-mph run in 3.8 seconds on its way to a 201-mph top speed. We figure the acceleration claim to be conservative, though, and would expect a time in the low threes for a 0-to-60-mph run. The Spyder Performante features a sportier suspension tune than on regular Gallardo Spyders, as well as special rubber. Lamborghini’s e-gear transmission, an automated single-clutch system, is standard, but the excellent six-speed manual with its gated shifter is available as a no-cost option. Lamborghini truly is doing heaven’s work.

Set to launch next year, the 2012 C-Class Coupe has shed some of its camo, and has even given up its interior secrets. The C-Class Coupe will feature a revised interior that will also surface in the updated version of the C-Class sedan.

The C-Class Coupe will be developed and produced at the Bremen plant, on the same assembly line as three existing models.

Mercedes stopped short of releasing specifics on the C-Class Coupe, stopping simply at confirming a 2011 introduction and the whereabouts of its origin. The current C-Class offering price from $33,600 in the U.S., and start with a base 3.0-liter 228 horsepower V6 with a rear-wheel drive platform. The C-Class also offers a 268 horsepower 3.5-liter V6, but commands a $6,000 premium for its 40 horsepower improvement.

We expect the same aforementioned drivetrains to be offered on the C-Class Coupe at its introduction, with a future AMG model like that of the existing C63 AMG Sedan – starting at $57,350 and powered by a 451 horsepower 6.3-liter V8 – a possibility. Although an AMG variant is almost certainly in the cards for the C-Class Coupe, everybody anticipates a switch to a smaller 5.5-liter V8, coupled with twin-turbochargers as Mercedes moves towards smaller, more fuel efficient engines.

Mercedes’ Bremen plant, where the C-Class Coupe will be produced in 2011, is a massive facility that operates a flexible assembly line, which currently produces the C-Class Saloon, C-Class Estate and GLK. Starting with the 2011, Mercedes will add the C-Class Coupe to the same assembly line.

“The decision by the Board of Management to produce the Coupé version of the current C-Class here in Bremen as well represents another important milestone on our way to becoming Mercedes’ competence centre for the C-Class and is a clear sign of the trust in the Bremen team’s capabilities and standards,” says Peter Schabert, head of Mercedes-Benz’ Bremen plant.

Mercedes-Benz will unveil its face-lifted 2012 C-Class sedan next month at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show and will begin shipping cars to U.S. dealers next summer. The updated C-Class gets restyled front and rear ends. The cockpit features a new instrument panel with a high-resolution color display.

For the U.S. market, the 2012 C-Class sedan will be offered initially in three variants. The C250 is powered by a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine delivering 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. The C300 4Matic features a 228-hp V6 with 221 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel drive. The C350 gets a new direct-injection V6 with 302 hp and 273 lb-ft.

Among the new optional driver-assistance systems for the 2012 C-Class are adaptive high-beam assist, Park Assist with Parktronic, lane-keeping assist and blind spot assist. The Attention Assist drowsiness detection system will come standard.

Sometime after introduction, look for a C-Class AMG Black Series with twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 as a potential M3 killer.

The return of BMW to the DTM from 2012 is reality: This was confirmed by the company during the DTM race weekend at the Hockenheimring. In April this year BMW announced its intention to race in the DTM in principle from 2012, the first time since its departure from the series in 1994.

In recent months BMW has been working with the DTM umbrella organisation ITR e.V. and the other manufacturers represented in the DTM on issues relating to the future technical regulations, and the long-term internationalisation of the championship. The positive nature of these discussions means BMW Motorsport can now begin planning its DTM comeback in greater detail.

The intention is to use the BMW M3 as the basic DTM vehicle, a car that has enjoyed unique successes in the field of touring and sports car racing in the past. Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia celebrated two DTM titles with the racing version of BMW’s most sporty model back in 1987 and 1989, while before that Volker Strycek won the first DTM in 1984 in the BMW 635 CSi.

BMW has announced the world premier of the concept for its new 6 Series concept coupe at the 2010 Paris Motor Show Oct. 12 – 17.

Judging from the preview photos, the new coupe still retains some of those classic hallmarks that make a BMW coupe (stretched hood, short front overhang, a low silhouette with a swooped roofline). The concept has a lower silhouette and a tighter rear end, giving it a sportier visual feel.

BMW says the 2+2-seater will have full-LED, adaptive headlights and a newly designed, freestanding control display for the iDrive operating system. It has a full-glass roof, Bang & Olufsen sound and the driver-oriented cockpit (instrument panel, electronics).

The best part is where most “concept” cars never see the light of day, what you are looking at is a concept car in name only. Now while we like this concept over the current 6 series and it is a definite step in the right direction. We would have liked a little more, lets hope the next time they take a leap instead of just a step. What are your thoughts?

The new Lotus Esprit is due in 2012 and might use a Toyota powerplant, continuing Lotus and Toyota’s relationship in powertrain sharing. While the Elise and Exige use Toyota’s 1.8-liter I-4 and the Evora uses Toyota’s 3.5-liter V-6, expect the Esprit to use something more along the lines of the Lexus LF-A’s 500-hp V-10.

The original Lotus Esprit was available with everything from a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine to a twin-turbo V-8 at the end of its life. It seems Lotus is coming out swinging with the next Esprit due in 2012 by possibly offering the [unlaunched] Lexus LF-A’s 500-hp V-10.

Lotus’ flagship supercar would compete directly with the Audi R8 5.2 FSI and its Italian cousin, the Lamborghini Gallardo. Using the V-10 would certainly raise Lotus’ profile from the maker of some wicked street-legal track monsters into the realm of true supercars.

Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled the first images and video of the new Mercedes-Benz CLS, which will be presented at the Paris Salon in early October. We can expect more engine details to be revealed once the 2012 CLS-Class debuts at the Paris motor show which runs October 2 – 17, 2010.